Gliederung

Objective

The aim of this prospective study was to compare the outcomes after simple decompression of the ulnar nerve and decompression combined with anterior subcutaneous transposition.

Methods

This study included 66 patients suffering from pain and/either neurological deficits with clinically and electrographically proven cubital tunnel syndrome. 32 patients underwent nerve decompression without transposition, whereas 34 underwent anterior subcutaneous transposition of the nerve. Follow-up examinations evaluating motor and sensory changes as well as motor nerve conduction velocity were performed three months and nine months postoperatively. This study was approved by the local ethicsl committee of Saarland.

Results

Irrespective of operative procedures, clinical symptoms such as pain, motor palsy and sensory deficits significantly improved in both groups postoperatively. Regarding motor and sensory improvements as well as motor nerve conduction velocity, there was no significant difference between patients operated with simple decompression only and patients with additional subcutaneous transposition of the ulnar nerve.

Conclusions

This prospective randomised study shows that the less invasive treatment i.e. simple decompression seems to yield the same results as decompression combined with anterior transposition especially in those cases of recurrent cubital tunnel syndrome.